These perfect summer sides are inspired by your favorite barbecue joint, from cornbread and baked beans to French fries and slaw, I’ve got all the classics (and some surprises!) covered for your next cookout. Best thing? You won’t have to choose just two!
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Ever wonder why the meals from your favorite barbecue joint always taste so amazing? It’s the sides. The smoky ribs and pulled pork get top billing, but the barbecue side dishes are what make the whole plate irresistible. And when you make them at home, you don’t have to choose just one or two from that tempting list ~ you can have them all. You’ll just need the recipes, of course…
The Biscuits
Biscuits are the sleeper hit of a summer barbecue. They turn ribs, chicken, pulled pork, chili, or a big salad into a meal, and they’re so much easier than bread. Serve them warm with butter, honey, or tucked around a piece of fried chicken.
The Beans
The sweet, smoky flavors of baked beans really complement classic barbecue dishes and help round out a summer grilling menu. This is the real deal recipe with molasses, maple syrup, and lots of spices.
The Cheesy Mac
Those little styrofoam cups of mac and cheese can’t hold a candle to this easy homemade version, and you can heap as much as you can fit on your plate.
The Slaw
I think every barbecue menu needs a little freshness and crunch to cut through all the rich, hearty meat, sweet sauce, and creamy salads. Slaw delivers on both accounts.
The Corn
Corn is a barbecue side dish natural, whether it’s creamy, cheesy, and spoonable or crisp and bright in a summer salad. I like having both kinds on the table: something rich to go with smoky meats, and something fresh to wake everything up.
- The Creamiest Creamed Corn
- Sweet Corn Spoonbread Casserole
- Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
The Potato Salad
I love to riff on the classic potato salad in all sorts of ways, and this recipe is a nice balance of tradition and a little freshness from the dill pickles and fresh herbs. Not a pickle fan? Try my Deviled Egg Potato Salad
Homemade Hawaiian Rolls
Sure, the ones from the bag are great, but if you’re looking for a fun baking project with really satisfying results, try making your own super soft and fluffy Hawaiian rolls! They go well with pulled pork and ribs, and make great sliders.
Bean Salad
Bean salads are barbecue gold because they hold up beautifully outside and usually get better as they sit. Go creamy, tangy, smoky, or Mediterranean ~ they bring protein, color, and substance to the plate without needing any last-minute fuss.
Easy Baked Fries
When I do have to choose just two sides at the BBQ restaurant, one of them is always fries! These crunchy fries are made easily in the oven, and are perfect for dipping into barbecue sauce.
The Cornbread
You’ve gotta have cornbread with barbecue, it’s just a fact. So why not have cornbread with benefits? Jalapeños and other creative ingredients add a wow factor to this classic recipe.
The Pasta Salad
Simple, delicious pasta salads are great for prepping ahead, and rounds out a plate of bbq like nothing else.
Onion strings
Gotta have ’em. A tangle of these light-as-air strings won’t weigh down your paper plate, so you can pile them nice and high.
Extra Sauce!
You can never have enough sauce, so making extra is always smart. My Strawberry BBQ Sauce is a fresh take on the classic, made with berries, rum, raw sugar, cider vinegar, and molasses. No dry fries here!
